Are you looking for the best web host to host your WordPress website? If yes, you need to know a few basics before choosing a suitable WordPress hosting service. Your web host plays a crucial role in determining a WordPress site’s performance, security, and scalability. Choosing the right web hosting provider tailor-made for WordPress is key to getting the speed, reliability, and support needed to succeed.
This comprehensive guide will cover selecting the ideal WordPress web host. We’ll examine key factors to evaluate top WordPress hosting providers, pricing considerations, migrating tips, and frequently asked questions. Let’s dive in!
Factors to Consider When Choosing WordPress Web Hosting
Not all standard shared web hosts are optimized to run WordPress smoothly, especially at scale. When researching options specifically for WordPress, focus on these key criteria:
1. WordPress Optimized Infrastructure
The underlying architecture of the hosting platform should be fine-tuned for WordPress:
- Web server software like Nginx or LiteSpeed configured for WP.
- PHP version optimized for best WP performance.
- MariaDB or MySQL database servers with tuned WP settings.
- CDN for faster media file delivery.
- Page caching configured out of the box.
- WP specific security protections.
2. Automatic WordPress Installation
The signup flow should guide you through installing WordPress with one click:
- Quickly configure and install WordPress.
- Select starter theme and plugins to include.
- Pre-populate content like sample posts and pages.
This simplifies launching new WP sites rapidly.
3. Managed WordPress Hosting
Some hosts offer extra levels of managed support specifically for WP sites:
- Assistance optimizing WP performance and compatibility.
- Malware detection and removal.
- WP experts handle upgrades, migrations and troubleshooting.
- Nightly backups to facilitate restores.
- Cloud infrastructure auto-scales to accommodate traffic spikes.
Managed WP hosting takes hosting worries off your plate.
4. Integrated WP Staging
Test changes and develop on a staging copy before going live:
- Make updates to staging site first, then push to production with one click.
- Avoid breaking live sites by previewing changes in staging first.
- Streamline testing updates, tweaks, plugins and themes.
Staging bakes testing into the workflow.
5. Special WP Tools & Metrics
Insights help optimize WordPress sites:
- WP performance metrics to diagnose speed issues.
- Utilities to identify and replace slow plugins.
- Scanners detect insecure plugins and dependencies.
- Activity logs provide visibility into site changes.
These WP-specific extras simplify management and debugging.
6. WP-Knowledgeable 24/7 Support
Look for WordPress experienced support reps ready to help:
- Documentation and forums focused on WP questions.
- Chat, phone and ticket support with WP savvy agents.
- Short wait times for support at all hours.
Get issues resolved promptly by WP pros.
7. Flexible WP Hosting Plans
Look for tiers scaling from basic to enterprise level needs:
- Entry plans for new sites with low visitors.
- Performance plans for established WP sites.
- Business plans for high traffic sites and complex apps.
- Enterprise plans for peak scalability and availability.
Minimum and maximum quotas that suit your needs ensure your site won’t outgrow the account’s capacity too quickly.
Top WordPress Web Hosting Providers Compared
With criteria in mind, let’s compare top contenders specifically tailored for hosting WordPress:
1. WP Engine
The gold standard in managed WordPress hosting, but priced at a premium. Gets outstanding marks for specialized WordPress infrastructure, security, speed, staging, and 24/7 support. Ideal for mission-critical sites.
2. Bluehost
One of the most popular and affordable shared hosts supporting millions of WordPress sites. Good basic WP features and performance. Managed WP plans available for additional cost.
3. Kinsta
Another premium managed WP hosting provider. Excellent uptime track record and page speeds. Great core infrastructure, CDN, security, and support.
4. SiteGround
Well-rounded mid-range host. Gets high marks for optimized WP infrastructure, superior support, and premium speed. Staging and managed WP available.
5. DreamHost
Long-time reputable player. Very customizable with WP specific plans. Above average uptime and speed. Competitive pricing.
6. Flywheel
Another very customizable WP host. Built-in staging, cloning, backups. responsive support. Site management focused.
7. A2 Hosting
Known for excellent page speeds via custom SwiftServer platform. Managed WordPress option. Solid plans and support. SSD storage included.
8. HostArmada
Reliable budget WP host. Advertises up to 450% faster WP speeds. Decent basic managed WP plans for the price.
9. GoDaddy
The world’s largest domain registrar also offers low-cost WP hosting. Reliable with occasional mixed reviews on support.
There are many capable options beyond those highlighted too. Focus on providers prioritizing WP-centric architecture and support over generalists.
Budget vs Premium WordPress Hosting
WP hosting plans at both ends of the pricing spectrum can deliver good results:
Budget WP Hosting
- Shared servers lower costs by supporting multiple accounts.
- Starts around $3-10 per month.
- Provides all you need for a simple blog or small business site.
- Limited resources mean less capacity for big spikes in visitors.
- Technical support may be less knowledgeable on WP specifics.
Premium WP Hosting
- Dedicated servers provide more resources and isolation.
- Around $25 per month and beyond.
- Designed to smoothly support high traffic loads.
- Expert WP-specific support worth the premium for business sites.
- Higher service levels, guaranteed uptime and maximum speeds.
Weigh priorities like traffic levels, complexity, uptime, and support needs when choosing between budget and premium plans.
Factors like page caching, CDNs, and server optimizations can help budget hosting achieve excellent WordPress performance for smaller sites. But mission-critical publishing sites and e-commerce stores benefit more from premium hosting capabilities in the long term.
Migrating to New WordPress Hosting
When ready to switch WP hosting providers, there are two main options for migrating:
1. Manual Migration
- Download WP site files via SFTP or cPanel.
- Use phpMyAdmin to export the MySQL database.
- Sign up for new hosting account.
- Upload files and import database.
- Update DNS records to new host.
2. Assisted Automatic Migration
Some hosts like Bluehost offer to handle migrations automatically:
- Install their plugin to prepare existing site.
- Choose new hosting plan with them to migrate to.
- They transfer everything to new account.
- Less downtime versus manual migration.
If current and new hosts use different server environments (Windows vs Linux, Apache vs Nginx, etc.), full compatibility may require more modifications.
Migrating also presents an excellent time to clear out unused plugins, themes, media, and database tables cruft to streamline your stack before relaunching on new hosting.
Frequently Asked Questions on WordPress Hosting
Here are answers to some common questions people have about choosing web hosting for WordPress:
What is the best web host for WordPress?
Some of the best web hosting providers explicitly optimized for WordPress include WP Engine, Kinsta, Bluehost, DreamHost, SiteGround, Flywheel, A2 Hosting, and GoDaddy, among many others.
Do I need managed WordPress hosting?
Managed WordPress hosting provides additional layers of customized WP support, speed, security, and scalability. It can benefit higher traffic, business, and ecommerce sites but is optional for personal blogs and small sites.
Is WordPress hosting better than shared hosting?
Specialized WordPress hosting is better optimized for WP’s resource needs. But shared hosting works for smaller WP sites. For large or complex WP sites, dedicated WP hosting is typically better than even shared optimized for WP.
What should I look for in WordPress hosting?
Ideal WordPress hosting offers optimized WP infrastructure, one-click installation, integrated staging sites, specialized WP tools, optional managed WP services, knowledgeable support, and flexible plans scaling from basic to enterprise level.
Is Bluehost good for WordPress?
Bluehost is a popular, beginner-friendly shared web host with capable WordPress hosting options, including managed WP plans. Bluehost delivers satisfactory uptime and performance for many sites at a reasonable price.
Final words on Choosing Best Web host
Choosing a web host purpose-built for optimal WordPress support unlocks the best possible WP site performance and customer experience. Prioritizing WordPress-tailored architecture, specialized tools, and managed services simplifies scaling up WP sites.
Evaluate hosts based on page speed benchmarks, uptime track records, security provisions, ease of staging, knowledgeability of support reps, and flexibility to grow with your needs over time.
While budget hosts may suffice initially, premium WP-focused plans often merit the investment for more demanding sites as traffic expands. But with the criteria covered here, even entry-level accounts can be sufficient when configured and managed correctly.
By matching your specific use case to a web host prioritizing WP capabilities, you can focus more on content and innovation, knowing your WordPress site is in good hands.
